Matthew

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

1Jesus said, "Here is what God's kingdom is like. A landowner went out early one morning to hire workers for his grape farm."

2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

2He agreed to pay them one silver coin for the day. Then he sent them into his vineyard to work.

NoteThe KJV says "a penny." The coin was a denarius, the normal pay for one full day of farm work. It was not a small amount.

3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

3About nine in the morning he went out again. He saw other men standing in the marketplace with nothing to do.

NoteThe KJV counts hours from sunrise, so the third hour is about nine in the morning, the sixth is noon, and the eleventh is about five in the afternoon.

4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

4He said to them, "You go work in my vineyard too. I will pay you whatever is fair." So they went.

5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

5He went out again about noon, and again about three in the afternoon, and hired more men the same way.

6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

6About five in the afternoon he went out and found still more men standing around. He asked, "Why have you stood here all day doing nothing?"

7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

7They said, "Because no one has hired us." He told them, "You go work in my vineyard too, and you will get whatever is fair."

8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

8When evening came, the owner said to the man who managed his workers, "Call the workers and pay them. Start with the last ones hired and end with the first."

9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

9The men hired at five in the afternoon came first. Each one of them was given a silver coin.

10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

10When the men hired first came up, they expected more. But each of them was given a silver coin too.

11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

11When they had taken their pay, they started to complain about the owner of the farm.

12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

12They said, "These last men worked only one hour. You have paid them the same as us, and we worked all day in the burning heat."

13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

13The owner answered one of them, "Friend, I am not cheating you. Didn't you agree to work for one silver coin?

14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

14Take your pay and go home. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.

15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

15The money is mine. Can't I do what I want with it? Or are you jealous because I am generous?"

NoteThe KJV asks, "Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" In old speech, an "evil eye" meant a jealous look. The owner is asking if the worker resents his kindness to others.

16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

16"So those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last. Many are invited, but few are chosen."

17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

17Jesus was on the road going up to Jerusalem. He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves and said to them,

18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

18"Listen. We are going up to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and they will sentence him to death.

19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

19They will hand him over to the Romans to make fun of him, to whip him, and to nail him to a cross. And on the third day he will rise again."

20Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her two boys. She knelt down before him and asked him for something.

21And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

21Jesus said, "What do you want?" She said, "Promise that when you are king, my two sons will sit beside you, one on your right and one on your left."

22But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

22Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" They said, "We can."

23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

23He said, "You will drink my cup. But the seats at my right and my left are not mine to hand out. Those places belong to the ones my Father has prepared them for."

24And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

24When the other ten disciples heard about this, they were angry with the two brothers.

25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

25Jesus called them all over and said, "You know how it works with rulers of other nations. They boss their people around, and the important men throw their weight about.

26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

26It must not be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great among you must be the one who serves you.

27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

27And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.

28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

28That is what the Son of Man did. He did not come to be waited on. He came to serve, and to give his life to buy freedom for many."

29And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

29As Jesus and his disciples were leaving the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

30Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!"

31And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

31The crowd told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!"

32And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

32Jesus stopped walking. He called them over and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

33They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

33They said, "Lord, we want our eyes opened so we can see."

34So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

34Jesus felt deep pity for them and touched their eyes. Right away they could see, and they went with him.